Vista CD???

**xpuser357** · December 25th, 2007, 05:36 PM

My wife was given a ACER laptop for a gift. When we turned it on and registered to Acer, I thought we had to register windows as well, Did not. Also no CD`s, (With my laptop XP, I received two cd`s, operating system
and driver cd). Question Can they do that?? (load system and keep CD).
Yeah I guess they did

And they probably bought a bunch of licenses
from micro soft. Vista home basic. is the operating system. I just think ahead
and what if the harddrive has a problem and needs new one. Or needs reformatted because there is some problem that antivirus programs cannot clean it up?? And of courseThis would happen after a year and out of warranty. RANT RANT RANT

**Platypus** · December 25th, 2007, 08:30 PM

Yes, bulk licensed systems can be supplied without hard media. There should be a restore partition or folder on the hard drive. Check the system documentation, you may be provided with a way to generate your own recovery media. Or depending on your legal jurisdiction, Acer may be required to provide disks if requested (maybe for a fee).

**xpuser357** · December 25th, 2007, 08:45 PM

Thanks for the input Platypus. I visited there site and was going to e-mail them, They have a place where you put your name and so on, and then it asks you where you are, tab to a selection of places except USA, there is
a line right down below tab that reads USA, or Canada press here and then a white page that stay`s only white. I waited for at least 5 minutes, then got out of there. Did obtain Phone #`s on a previous search. I will find out tomorrow how much of a fee

**Guts3d** · December 26th, 2007, 02:00 PM

You could also use a program like Acronis or Ghost to make a bootable image dvd and keep that handy right next to the regular data backups.

**NooNoo** · December 26th, 2007, 02:13 PM

Acer is pretty decent on support - contact them would be the quickest way to solve the problem.

**xpuser357** · December 26th, 2007, 10:06 PM

I e-mailed them waiting for responce

Should receive it tomorrow on what may occur. Product key and sticker is on bottom of laptop. I actually could not find the state #, but I navigated to usa on E-Mail. and received auto responce. just waiting

**NooNoo** · December 27th, 2007, 04:38 AM

That is your proof of authenticity - it proves you have a licence so therefore you can use any vista cd of the same type (home basic oem). If you use a business, premium or ultimate, it will assume you want to upgrade.

**xpuser357** · December 27th, 2007, 08:08 AM

Well I am a little confused. You said any vista cd of the same type. All
microsoft operating programs that I know on installing,Reqiuries you to accept
license and then enter product key. Each CD (windows). Are you saying
vista will not ask for different product key when you install a different licencse

I do not know about vista yet. I did check it out and there is a button to upgrade. also A DVD WRITER RW, that has a back up program,
only thing bothers me, If you back up system and do not use it for a while
it may fade out. when if you have windows Cd they do not fade. I have
win 3.1 cd and it still retains

**CCT** · December 27th, 2007, 08:17 AM

http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/sel...tructions.aspx

**NooNoo** · December 27th, 2007, 09:14 AM

There are different types of vista (at different prices). Hence you must use the right type installation CD. Kinda like the difference between XP home and Xp Pro.

You have a licence for home basic. If you use a vista ultimate dvd, it will see your existing installation and assume you want to upgrade it - for which you will have got another key... but if you just borrowed the disk, you won't have another key. Once you have the upgrade in place it will run for 30 days before you have to give it the key (which it will helpfully offer to get for you online).

Shop bought DVDs and CDs are stamped, not burned, so they will last longer... but not forever.

**xpuser357** · December 27th, 2007, 12:58 PM

Thanks NOO NOO for explanation

**format c:** · December 27th, 2007, 04:44 PM

Since the media is cheap, Why can't they supply the disk ,I agree with Noo that factory pressed CDs last longer since they are stamped, My friend bought a nice lappie by Asus and no disk, He had Home Premium, So I copied mine for him and told him that as long as he uses his product code it is legal , No I did not give him my product code, I know better
If you know some one with home basic, Burn a copy of their disk and use your product code if your OS goes south

**Ferrit** · December 28th, 2007, 01:21 PM

Acer provides a complete restoration cd/dvd making routine that runs when you first start the laptop.
It is also under start programs.
Ordinarily on the 10 or so laptops i have gotten in the last 6 months from acer with Vista all have come with the Vista Upgrade cd.

**xpuser357** · December 28th, 2007, 06:50 PM

No upgrade cd or anything except power plug to transformer, and battery.
Did receive E-mail and they said could not ship recovery cd per license
with MICROSOFT. So I can assume that they purchased one physical
vista CD. And loaded a bunch of laptops and maybe desktops. of course they paid microsoft for each one to obtain sticker with product key.Yeah they told me about how to back up. first computer I know of that did not come
with cd. when loaded with windows.

**CCT** · December 28th, 2007, 07:25 PM

You never did say what Acer model!

The Microsoft site I linked basically says 'Hey - if you are screwed up, just load someone elses stuff and key, then, within 30 days, change the key'.

edit: and the other stuff HAS to be the same stuff you had